Autymn Williams, a CMPI alumna majoring in Violin Performance and Statistics and Data Science at Northwestern University, shares her experience as a CMPI Summer Intern.
Autymn discovered the CMPI internship through an alumni email and was initially unaware that such opportunities existed. Despite the surprise, she applied, choosing various areas of interest, including marketing. Her proactive approach led to two interviews, ultimately securing the internship.
Once she started, Autymn was immersed in a broad range of roles rather than a single task. This comprehensive exposure gave her valuable insights into the business side of being a musician and showcased CMPI’s collaborative and dynamic work environment.
Autymn was one of only two interns at CMPI, with her tenure overlapping with her colleague Amanda’s. Reflecting on her initial experience, Autymn expressed her admiration for the team’s organization and communication. “I was amazed by how efficient and organized everyone was. They were very communicative, which made it easy to understand what was going on and what was expected of me,” she said. The supportive environment was a standout aspect of her internship.
“It gave me a lot of insight into the business side of being a musician,” she noted. The internship provided firsthand experience in concert organization, marketing, and networking – skills that Autymn plans to apply as she balances performing with other roles in the industry.
Her internship projects ranged from organizing social media posts and cleaning up data tables to assisting with event planning for the Ravinia concert. She also handled smaller tasks like ordering supplies and managing communications. One memorable moment was observing the team’s personalized approach to each fellow’s progress. “It was impressive to see how much they cared about each individual fellow,” she recalled.
Despite some logistical challenges, such as coordinating transportation for events, the overall experience was smooth and supportive. Autymn is eager to apply the business skills she gained to her music career, particularly in marketing and adaptability.
In her final thoughts, Autymn praised the balance of work and enjoyment during her internship and recommended the experience to anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the CMPI organization and staff. Her story underscores the transformative potential of internships like CMPI’s, which offer a comprehensive and supportive environment for aspiring professionals.
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Autymn Williams